We had a windy hike today to Tom Mc Call point, and then to the furthest point on Rowena Crest. Flowers are blooming, the early spring ones, lots of grass widows, Columbia basin parsley, and glacier lilies on Tom McCall. On Rowena Crest the grass widows have gone to seed, but yellow desert parsley are in bloom, as well as numerous small saxifrages and tiny yellow daisies. We also saw a few shooting star. The weather varied from strong wind with sun, to strong wind with horizontal rain, to strong wind with small hail. I guess that's the Columbia Gorge! There was some mud, not bad. We saw one other party all day. We saw many raptors including a golden eagle, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks (one was harassing the eagle. The balsamroot and lupine will be out in about 2 - 3 weeks if there is some warm weather, I'm guessing. 

Arrived at the overlook (which is also the trailhead) around noon. It's an easy two mile walk, one way, with about 1000 feet of elevation gain, mostly pretty gradual. The trail is well marked and easy to follow all the way to the top. Even though it's past peak wildflower season, the open slopes were blue and purple with bachelor buttons and vetch, accented white with yarrow. Most of the balsam root was done, but at higher elevation, there were a few still in flower. The views start right from the trailhead, and only get better as you get higher, culminating with stunning vistas of Mt Adams and Mt Hood. Take bug repellent, as the oak groves that provide pleasant shade in several sections of trail were swarming with mosquitos. We got plenty of bites, even with picardin. This hike is a great way to break up a road trip through the Columbia Gorge. 

I know the Gorge could be windy, but oh boy was it WINDY today! I’m not good at evaluating wind speed, but it literally blew my sneaker away while I was changing, so I had to recover it from under my car. So if you see wind advisory for the area, hold your children, pets, smartphones, and wigs tight. Do not go if you already did your hair for that evening reception. Moore your vehicle. 

Other than wind, it was a short and very pleasant hike. Not many people on the trail due to wind and associated cold feeling. Tons and tons of flowers. Balsamroots start fading out, and probably this windy weather will help it much. 

Note there was no toilet at all - looks like it overfilled according to a recent report and was taken for maintenance. There’s a rest area on I-84 nearby, but don’t count much on it. At least men’s bathroom in EB rest area was totally miserable.

Second time I've been here, first time to admire the viewpoint, and this second time I walked Tom McCall Point and the Rowena Plateau. Both are easy to do and have plenty of vista's.  Come prepared for wind, (as you should for the Columbia River area), it can get real windy and you'll be happy you brought something to break the wind with, and keep you warm!  (This Sunday I was almost blown off my feet a few times)  The trail is pretty straight forward, but stay on the trails and  take time to use the trail spurs and loops available, this way you see more, and might a trail that is not so full of people, as this is also a tourist spot.

Bottom Line: Wonderful flower show of balsamroot, lupine and paintbrush (the balsamroot is maybe just past peek). Dense flower fields throughout the hike to McCall Point. Go soon!!

Statistics:

• Distance: 6.5 miles
• Duration: 2- 3/4 hours
• Vertical: 1360 ft
• Trail: Excellent condition, no mud, moderate/family-friendly and not particularly rocky
• Weather: Mix of sun and cloud, 70s, breezy (it's the gorge after all :))
• Takeaway: Beautiful trail up grassy, flower-filled slopes with pockets of dense wind-stunted and twisted oak trees

There are two trailheads at the Rowena Crest Viewpoint, accessed via (quaint, white fence-lined) Hwy 30 off Hwy 84, just west of The Dalles. This is an Oregon State Park with lots of parking and people coming and going to see the view of the flowers and gorge from the crest. You can see plenty of flowers from the trailhead even if you do not hike.

The two trails are the McCall Point trail, which heads up the flower-filled hillside, and then across the road, the Rowena Plateau trail. The latter was grassier and had fewer flowers (mostly dense spots of lupine), but you get close up views of the basalt cliffs and the Columbia River via a couple different available loops. McCall point on the other hand is an out-and-back, and this is where most of the vertical is. The two trails are sufficiently different to together make a great combination. Awesome day! 

PS. Light was somewhat harsh for my pics... would choose near sunrise or sunset next time for warm flower lighting :)